Unless Rowling Is Pulling A Beyonce, Another HP Film Is (Thankfully) Off The Cards

Despite the initial excitement, fans who got their expectations too high will be disappointed to hear that Rowling isn't planning any substantial additions to the Harry Potter story.

Following J. K. Rowling’s announcement of a brand new Harry Potter short story, fans (who are now sane, rational adult humans, for the most part) went by-and-large crazy over the possibilities. Could there be a new book coming? What about a new movie? Maybe Hogwarts really is there to welcome Potterheads home, but it won't be with another HP book or film.

Jo Rowling isn't willing to mess with a good thing.

The first person the media went to in the frenzy was Daniel Radcliffe, who is not really open to returning to the franchise, unless Rowling is actually working on something movie-worthy. In the past, the author has indicated that she wouldn't be writing any more books about Harry, and a spokesperson reiterated as much to the Bookseller on Tuesday. But the Harry Potter universe is a vast and profitable place and Rowling has a whole world of short stories, spin-offs and expansions to choose from. Potter fans (this writer included) tend to eat up any new writing by Rowling, let alone things related to the boy wizard.

Another question is whether a rebooted franchise would be successful without its stars. The upcoming Fantastic Beasts movie, which Rowling and Warner Bros. are working on is already a stretch, but could a film about the future of the Trio work without the actual Trio? On Tuesday, Daniel Radcliffe said that he would be “inclined to say no” to returning to his childhood role. "It’s not even really a hypothetical question now,” he added, when asked about the story at the TV critics press tour.

“I haven’t read it yet, though I will,” the 24-year-old actor said, via the New York Daily News. “But my understanding is that it’s very short, not worthy of adaptation to film.”